W&J, Cal set for conference baseball tournaments
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
A four-game losing streak is not the preferable way to head into postseason play.
That is exactly what the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team faces Wednesday in the opening round of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship tournament at Ross Memorial Park.
The Presidents (16-4 in the PAC, 26-13 overall) have wobbled in the last few weeks, dropping four straight games, five of six, six of nine and eight of 14.
On the other hand, W&J has won 16 consecutive PAC tournament games and five consecutive PAC titles.
Included in the regular season’s end was an unthinkable doubleheader sweep by Bethany on Sunday when W&J managed just two runs in 18 innings against one of the statistically worst pitching staffs in the PAC.
It was the first time since 2004 (three-game series) the Bison swept the Presidents.
W&J had clinched the No. 1 seed in the six-team PAC tournament but ended in a tie for first place with Grove City. The Presidents swept the Wolverines this season.
W&J will open the tournament against sixth-seed Thiel at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Grove City will play fifth-seeded Saint Vincent at 2:30 p.m. The final game Wednesday has Allegheny, the No. 3 seed, against No. 4 Westminster at 6 p.m.
The Presidents have struggled with consistency offensively and the defense has submarined victories. W&J committed 64 errors and allowed 48 unearned runs during the regular season.
The Presidents are vulnerable and stumble into the postseason.
“It has been a rough patch,” said Presidents’ coach Jeff Mountain. “There’s no doubt about it. Everybody’s probably seeking answers as to what happened and why and how we can be better.
“The inconsistent hitting has kind of been all year. I mean we definitely underachieved offensively or else we wildly overachieved last year. To me, we lack a lot of confidence. Maybe that starts with us (the coaches). At the same time, we’re one good week away from feeling a lot differently about things.”
Dante DiMatteo is the W&J ace, with an 8-0 record with an NCAA Division III-best 0.93 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 58 1/3 innings with 61 strikeouts.
The Presidents’ two main offensive threats are seniors Jacob LaDuca, a shortstop, and outfielder Drew Garth. LaDuca is hitting .364 with 14 doubles, three home runs, a .543 slugging percentage, .483 on-base percentage and a 1.026 OPS. Garth is hitting .373 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 33 RBI.
Grove City is led by pitcher David Lesley (8-1) with a 1.48 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. They have a strong offense and are airtight defensively up the middle, including junior center fielder Nick Sampson, a Peters Township graduate.
“We’re averaging over nine runs a game, which is hard to do,” said Grove City coach Matt Royer. “It’s been pretty much the same lineup all the way. What’s impressed me the most is our defense. Our middle infield has been incredible. To win, it’s pitching.”
Vulcans playoff ready
The California Vulcans (19-8 in PSAC 34-11 overall) begin PSAC tournament play Wednesday against West Chester at Millersville University.
The Vulcans lost four of their last six games after an eight-game winning streak. Cal finished second in the West Division.
“I think we always need to constantly improve,” said Mike Conte, the Vulcans’ longtime coach. “We’re at the point in the season where you’re going to be challenged to the highest extent. I just know we will give our very best against a lot of very good teams.
Conte’s son, Payton, is one of the Vulcans’ top hitters with a .372 batting average with 11 doubles, six home runs and 44 RBI. He is a senior.
The first round of the eight-team PSAC tournament is single-elimination. The four teams that win Wednesday will then play double-elimination.